Safety Garment

ABSTRACT

A safety garment having a back piece, a front piece, an upper side having a neck opening and a lower side. At the back piece the garment is provided with a closeable split from the neck opening to the lower side. In the closed position the garment denies the patient access to at least one part of their body. The safety garments known in the art are tailored to the patient concerned in order to achieve a desired grade of protection against themselves. This is relatively expensive. The safety garment comprises a neck opening, two armholes and two holes for the legs, of which at least one through-opening has an adjustable diameter. This safety suit can be manufactured relatively cheap and offers a high level of protection against themselves.

The present invention relates to a safety garment comprising a back piece and a front piece, and which further has an upper side having a neck opening and a lower side, wherein the back piece comprises a closeable split which extends from the neck opening in the direction of the lower side of the safety garment, in order to

-   be able to dress a patient with the safety garment in the open     position of the closeable split, and -   deny the patient access to at least part of the inside of the safety     garment in the closed position of the closeable split.

Safety garments are worn for instance by mentally ill people who seek access to their body in order to e.g.

-   attempt auto-mutilation, -   manipulate their stool, or -   eat incontinence materials.

A safety garment prevents the patient's hands from accessing the space in the safety garment that is occupied by the torso. The urge to reach this inner space can be so strong that the patient uses e.g. the hypermobility of their joints or dislocates an arm in order to use the increased mobility achieved this way for getting a hand into the inner space. The split can e.g. be closed with a zipper of which at least the slider body in the uppermost position thereof is covered with a flap having a locking member in order to make it harder for the patient to reach the slider body. Alternatives are conceivable, such as the use of a small lock.

Since patients come in all sizes and weights, safety garments known in the art are custom made for the patient concerned in order to be able to achieve a desired grade of protection against themselves. It goes without saying that this is relatively expensive.

The present invention aims to provide a safety garment that can be manufactured relatively cheap but with which nevertheless a high level of protection of the patient against themselves can be achieved.

To this end, a safety garment according to the preamble is characterized in that the safety garment comprises two armholes and two holes for the legs, and at least a through-opening of the safety garment selected from i) the neck opening, and ii) an armhole, and iii) a hole for the leg is a through-opening of which the diameter can be adjusted.

Just like with common clothing, such a safety garment can be manufactured in a variety of standard sizes without the need of taking into account specific dimensions and sizes of an individual patient. In fact, the safety garment will be adjusted before for use by an individual patient by adjusting the diameter of at least one adjustable through-opening in such a way that it is not larger than necessary for the allowable freedom of movement of the patient.

For being adjustable, the neck opening, a sleeve and/or a leg e.g. comprise at least two holes, such as holes trimmed with a plastic or metal ring to prevent tearing. This is a possible embodiment of an organ the safety garment comprises for making a through-opening adjustable. By using for instance a small lock for bringing and keeping the holes together, the diameter of the through-opening concerned can be limited. For armholes and holes for the legs optionally Tie-wrap may be used.

For the present invention, the term hole for the leg means a continuous opening into which a leg is at least partially inserted. In case of a safety garment that comprises a leg (two legs), the term hole for the leg implies a hole for the leg in the form of the proximal opening of the leg, a hole for the leg in the form of the distal opening of the leg, as well as each cross section of the leg thereinbetween. For adjusting the through-opening for a leg, preferably a hole for the leg defined by a part of the garment that is situated away from the distal end of the leg will be adjustable, since in this way access to the inside space which is occupied by the torso of the user in the safety suit can be limited best. For an armhole of an arm, the safety garment may comprise a sleeve (two sleeves), for which the same applies as explained hereinbefore for the hole for the leg.

US2011/0179547 discloses a garment for a toddler or the like with limited access to the body, such as to a diaper.

According to a favourable embodiment, the through-opening is defined by a shielded guide for at least one oblong element, wherein the effective length of the oblong element defines the diameter of the through-opening as limited by the shielded guide.

In fact, before use the safety garment is adapted for an individual patient by choosing the effective length of the element such that the through-opening is no larger than required for the permitted freedom of movement of the patient. The shielded element is e.g. a cord which is shortened, a chain having links of which the number of links is adjusted etc. The shielding is e.g. achieved by the outside of the collar of the neck; or by the sleeve or the leg when the guide has been applied at a distance of the distal end thereof.

The shielding is achieved because the access to the oblong element is situated at the inside of the safety garment. Thus, it can only be reached when the safety garment is open and/or not being worn.

According to a favourable embodiment, the shielding is achieved in that the access to the oblong element is situated at the inside of the safety garment.

Thus, it can only be reached when the safety garment is open and/or not being worn.

DE202006009865U1 discloses a suit having a hood. To prevent a child from getting caught by a loose hanging loop this is incorporated in a pocket that has an access at the outside of the garment.

According to a favourable embodiment, the shielded guide comprises two layers of fabric.

Thus, a shielded guide can be provided easily and effectively. The two layers of fabric are e.g. formed by turning back the fabric of the safety garment. The section formed by the turned back fabric is relatively thick and offers (taking the circumstances into account) a relatively good wearing comfort for the patient.

According to a favourable embodiment, the shielded guide which comprises two layers of fabric is manufactured by applying a facing.

Such a facing of a safety garment according to the invention is inexpensive and effective. The use of facings also makes it possible, by using two pieces of facing, to better shield off the place of access of the oblong element in the guide, by letting the pieces of facing overlap each other.

According to a favourable embodiment, the shielded guide has a slot for accessing the oblong element.

The slot may contribute to achieving the shielding of the oblong element, particularly at the neck opening, such as discussed in the figure description.

According to a favourable embodiment, for adjusting the diameter of the neck opening the guide comprises two oblong elements, wherein a first free end of a first oblong element is secured near a first slit edge of the left half of the back piece and and a first free end of a second oblong element is secured near a second slit edge of the right half of the back piece.

The through-opening for the neck can then be adjusted by connecting the second free ends, optionally after shortening at least one of the oblong elements. When the distance from the slot to the secured first end of the first element is shorter than the distance of the free second end of the first element to the said secured first end, the connection between the two free ends will automatically disappear into the guide and will thus be harder to access.

According to a favourable embodiment, the safety garment is an overall.

In case of an overall, the holes for the legs may optionally not be provided with a through-opening having an adjustable diameter, since the legs of the overall provide an effective barrier that prevents access to the interior. Furthermore, a leg, for which it is already harder to enter the interior, will not be able to meet the patients urge, since it has no fingers. Thus, less adjustment is needed.

According to a favourable embodiment, the oblong element comprises roller blind cord.

Roller blind cord is strong and can easily be shortened to a desired length, e.g. by cutting. Furthermore, the ends of roller blind cord can be interconnected by means of a connection means in the shape of a box having a lid, which is known in the art, wherein of each end of two roller blind cord ends a bead is inserted into the connection means after which the lid is closed for securing the connection established.

According to a favourable embodiment, the shielded guide at a distance of the through-opening is provided with at least one vent hole.

Thus, the wearing comfort is increased.

The present invention will now be illustrated with reference to the drawing where

FIG. 1 shows a rear view of a part of a safety garment;

FIG. 2 shows the overall of FIG. 1 in a position in which it is open further; and

FIG. 3 shows a detail of the safety garment of FIG. 2, with a perspective view of the inside of the safety suit.

FIG. 1 shows a rear view of a part of a safety garment 100, here in the form of an overall 100, which safety garment 100 comprises a back piece 110 (the front piece can be seen in FIG. 2), a neck opening 130 defined by a collar 131 from which a zipper 140 extends in the direction of the lower side of the safety garment 100. In the position as shown in FIG. 1, undesired for actual use, the slider body 141 and pull tab 142 of the zipper 140 are not covered, as they ought to be, by a flap 143, which flap 143 having directional snap fasteners 144 (type 23OW-DP 40, Morito Europe BV, Rotterdam, The Netherlands) is secured at the back piece 110 in order to avoid that a person wearing the safety garment 100 can open the zipper 140.

The safety garment 100 further comprises sleeves 150 and legs 160.

The safety garment 100 is made of strong fabric that will not tear easily, e.g. cotton-polyester fabric (40% resp. 60%).

A safety garment 100 as described above is known in the art.

FIG. 2 shows the safety garment 100 of FIG. 1 wherein the zipper 140 is opened further. Here the front piece 220 can be seen, in particular the inside thereof.

The neck opening 130 of the safety garment 100 according to the invention has an adjustable diameter as depicted in FIG. 2. In the embodiment shown, the safety garment 100 to this end has a first oblong element 270 and a second oblong element 280. In the embodiment shown here, both elongated elements are in the shape of roller blinds bead-cord. The first oblong element 270 has a first end 271 and a second end 272. The first end 271 is secured at the inside of the collar 131, near the first half of the zipper 241. Likewise, the second oblong element 280 has a first end 281 and a second end 282. The first end 281 is secured at the inside of the collar 131, near the second half of the zipper 242.

The collar 131 takes the form of a guide 232 in the form of a hem 232, e.g. formed by turning back fabric over both oblong elements. Alternatively, it is preferred to form the hem 232 by applying a facing, i.e. a piece of fabric that has been secured by stitching, at the edge of the neck opening.

In the hem 232 a slot 235 is present via which both free second ends protrude. These free second ends are interconnected. In case both oblong elements are in the form of a cord, this can e.g. be done by means of a reef knot. In case of bead cord, such as with this embodiment, at least one of both oblong elements is shortened. Subsequently, both free second ends are interconnected by means of a connecting box 290. A connecting box 290 for connecting ends of bead cord is commercially available. It is a little box having a lid. The little box has two recesses for receiving the distal beads of two bead cords to be interconnected. By closing the lid of the connecting box 290 the ends are interconnected and secured. Where the bead cord is situated within the hem 232 the beads are shown in black.

If the total distance between the first ends of the oblong element formed by the closing is smaller than the total length of the collar between the places of the collar where the first ends are secured, the diameter of the neck opening 130 is reduced. The length of the free ends do not contribute to determining the diameter. Only the parts that do determine that diameter and thus undergo forces when a person wearing the suit pulls at the opening concerned, determine the effective length. If the distance from the connecting box 290 to a place where a first end is secured differs from the distance from that first place to the slot 235, the connecting box 290 will automatically end up within the hem 232, out of reach of the fingers of the person wearing the suit and for whom the neck opening has been adapted such that in a closed position of the safety garment 100 it is present around the person's neck without much clearance.

The slot 235 is situated at the inside of the suit, as a result of which it cannot be reached by the person wearing the safety suit in a closed position. In other words, the slot 235 is facing the body of the person wearing the suit.

FIG. 3 shows a detail of the inside of the safety garment 100 of FIG. 2, in particular a perspective view of an armhole 351 of sleeve 150. Herein, a hem 352 has been applied along the inner circumference of the sleeve 150, which functions as a guide for an oblong element, such as a cord or, here again, a piece of bead cord of a roller blind. In this case, one piece of bead cord 353 will do as an elongated element for limiting the diameter of opening 354. There is no need to secure the ends of the oblong element. After having set the desired length for the user in question of the safety garment 100, the ends of the bead cord 353 as described above are interconnected by means of a connecting box 290′. This determines the diameter of the opening, which in this way can be adapted accurately to the person who is to wear the overall. The little closing box 290′ cannot be reached by the person wearing the safety garment 100, since it is situated at the inside of the overall, at a large distance of the distal end of the sleeve 150.

In FIG. 3 the guide 232 for the collar 131 is formed by two pieces of facing 370, 370′, i.e. ribbons of fabric stitched at the upper side on the front piece and back piece. With the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 the piece of facing 370′ overlaps the slot 235, and provides a slot 235′ itself. By tailoring the first oblong element 270, the length thereof is so short that the connecting box 290 sits between the first facing 370 and the front piece 220 and cannot be reached by the patient via the two slots 235, 235′ when wearing the safety suit. Such an extreme shielding is not necessary for the bead cord 353 of the arm, since the hem 352 cannot be reached (via the sleeve 150) by the patient.

From FIG. 3 it is clear that a through-opening according to the invention can be adjustable by applying a guide, that is provided by applying a facing, on an area provided by the back piece and the front piece around the proximal armhole opening of the sleeve 150 of the safety garment for limiting the reachability.

Access to the slot of e.g. a neck opening in a worn position is made impossible in that the fabric of the collar is stiff as a result of which the collar cannot be folded back. Nor can the elongated elements be manipulated because of this. Furthermore, the space in the guide can be too small for being able to open the little box. For armholes or holes for the legs benefit can optionally be taken of the fact that the access is situated at a distance of the distal end, which may provide an extra barrier. The fabric of the safety suit may comprise cordura. 

1. A safety garment (100) comprising a back piece (110) and a front piece (220), and which further has an upper side having a neck opening (130) and a lower side, wherein the back piece (110) comprises a closeable split which extends from the neck opening (130) in the direction of the lower side of the safety garment (100), in order to be able to dress a patient with the safety garment (100) in the open position of the closeable split, and deny the patient access to at least part of the inside of the safety garment (100) in the closed position of the closeable split, characterized in that the safety garment (100) comprises two armholes and two holes for the legs, and at least a through-opening of the safety garment (100) selected from i) the neck opening (130), and ii) an armhole (351), and iii) a hole for the leg is a through-opening of which the diameter can be adjusted.
 2. The safety garment (100) according to claim 1, wherein the through-opening is defined by a shielded guide (232) for at least one oblong element, wherein the effective length of the oblong element defines the diameter of the through-opening as limited by the shielded guide (232).
 3. The safety garment (100) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the shielding is achieved in that the access to the oblong element is situated at the inside of the safety garment.
 4. The safety garment (100) according to any of the claims 2 or 3, wherein the shielded guide (232) comprises two layers of fabric.
 5. The safety garment (100) according to any of the claims 2 to 4, wherein the shielded guide (232) which comprises two layers of fabric is manufactured by applying a facing.
 6. The safety garment (100) according to any of the claims 2 to 5, wherein the shielded guide (232) has a slot for accessing the oblong element.
 7. The safety garment (100) according to claim 6, wherein for adjusting the diameter of the neck opening (130) the guide (232) comprises two oblong elements, wherein a first free end of a first oblong element (270) is secured near a first slit edge of the left half of the back piece (110) and and a first free end of a second oblong element (280) is secured near a second slit edge of the right half of the back piece (110).
 8. The safety garment (100) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the safety garment (100) is an overall (100).
 9. The safety garment (100) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the oblong element comprises roller blind cord.
 10. The safety garment (100) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the shielded guide (232) at a distance of the through-opening is provided with at least one vent hole. 